Basket ball game



March s BISHOP BASKET BALL GAME Filed Oct. 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet .2 I E III ALUIE ETANLEY EIEHUF' INVEN'TUR v ATTURNEY- March 28, 1933. A BISHOP ,903,254

BASKET BALL GAME Filed 001:. 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Shet 2 I %///%j 1 i JIH M .711]? ALUZE STANLEY EJEHUF INvENT/J ATTURNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1933 ALOIS STANLEY BISHOP,

PATENT OFFICE OF KOHLER, WISCONSIN BASKET BALL GAME Application filed October 16, 1930. Serial No. 489,130.

My invention relates to improvements in basket ball games. An object of my invention is to provide a projector for a game apparatus which will simulate an actual basket ball player very closely and to position said projector above the playing floor in. a readily accessible position.

Another object of my invention is to provide regulating means for the projector whereby the trajectory of the ball may be regulated according to the distance of the shot, thereby making possible the use of only one projector for shots from all positions.

WVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the basket ball game as herein claimed and all equivalents.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a side View of the playing floor; Fig. II, a top plan of the playing floor with the nets and baskets removed; Fig. III, a side view, in section, of the projector; and Fig. IV, a rear view of the projector.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In these drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the case or frame of the projector. Positioned in a recess in the frame 1 is an irregular shaped impeller 2 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 3. The rear extremity of the impeller 2 extends for some distance behind the frame 1 and is designed to be lifted manually, thus compressing the spring 4 which bears against its forward extremity.

The spring 4 is firmly attached to the frame 1 by means of the screw 5 and the pin 6 which hold it firmly and secure it against lateral movement.

When the impeller 2 is released from its manual retention in a raised position, the spring 4 forces the forward extremity of the impeller 2 violently upward where it impinges upon a ball of resilient materlal 7 which rests upon a suitably shaped extension 8 of the frame 1. This drives the ball for a short distance and simulates the shot for the basket of the actual basket ball game.

Positioned above the impeller 2 is a wheel 9 having lugs 10 of irregular length spaced 0 around its periphery. These lugs serve to limit the distance that the impeller 2 may be raised and the consequent tension on the spring 4. This provides a means whereby the trajectory of the ball may be regulated, for by turning the wheel 9 so that one of the shorter lugs is above the impeller 2, the rear extremity of the latter may be raised higher and the spring 4 compressed more strongly, thus resulting in the ball being driven a farther distance. Similarly, a shorter shot may be made by turning the wheel 9 so that a longer lug is above the impeller. The rear extremity of the impeller cannot then be raised as high as before and a less degree of tension on the spring is obtained, resulting 6 in a shorter shot. Thus the device may be regulated so as to give the proper length of shot for any position on the playing floor.

The lugs 10 may be threaded into the wheel 9 so as to allow of adjustment in their length by screwing them in or out of the wheel, or screws may be used in place of the lugs. Once the initial adjustment is made so that the lugs are of the proper length to give the length of shot desired, the wheel 9 may be numbered near each lug with numbers corresponding to the numbers for each bore 20 on the playing floor. These bores represent playing positions and this means will read- 1ly lndicate to the player which lug should be used for a shot from any of these positions on the floor.

The wheel 9 is mounted on a shaft 11 which is journaled in bearings 12 and 13. A flange 14 on the shaft 11 at one end and o a nut 15 at the other end hold the bearings in place. A knurled nut 16 is attached to the shaft 11 at one end and provides a means of turning it so as to rotate the wheel 9. A panel 17 which may be decorated to represent a basket ball player, covers the mechanism and is attached to the frame 1 by means of screws 18.

A pin 19, which fits into a bore in the frame 1, extends for some distance beyond the frame. The extension of this pin is adapted to be received in the bores-2O in the playing floor 21, thus holding the projector upright while shooting yet allowing lateral adjustment so as to aim toward the basket properly.

Attached to the playing floor 21, at either end thereof, are end pieces 22 upon which are supported baskets 23. The playing floor 21 has a slight slope toward the center. This prevents the ball from coming to rest on the floor and assures that it will roll into one of the recesses described hereafter. These recesses 24 are provided in the customary positions of the players in a basket ball game and also in the free throw position.

The playing floor 21 is decorated to represent the conventional basket ball court and the recesses 24L are decorated with two contrasting colors to represent the two sides in the game. The play is started by dropping the ball 7 upon a projection 25 in the center of the playing floor. This simulates the cen ter tip-off of an actual basket ball game. The ball then rolls into one of the recesses 24. The color of the recess into which it rolls determines which side shall have the privilege of the shot for the basket. The side gaining possession of the ball shoots it at its basket from the nearest shooting position 24 by means of the above described projector. If the ball misses the basket it rebounds and again comes to rest in one of the recesses. The score for baskets made is the same as in the actual game of basket ball.

A net 26, suspended between the end pieces 22, confines the ball within the playing area. If, by any chance, it should go out of bounds, or after a basket is made, the ball is again put into play by means of the center tip-off 25, the same as in the conventional game of basket ball.

From the above description it will be seen that I have invented a basket ball game which has a very close resemblance to the actual game of basket ball, both in appearance and in the manner of play, and one which has all working parts located above the level of the playing floor in a position readily accessible to a player.

I claim:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of a playing floor having a plurality of depressions adapted to receive a ball and defining playing positions, a projector located above said playing floor, said projector comprising a frame, a spring actuated impeller, means for regulating the compression obtainable on the spring thereof, and means for supporting and positioning said projector at any of the aforesaid playing positions.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a playing floor and a projector, said projector consisting of a frame, a spring positioned within said frame, an impeller positioned above said spring and actuated thereby, a. rotatable wheel positioned above said impeller. lugs of irregular length on the periphery of said wheel whereby the upward movement of the impeller and the compression obtainable on the spring are regulated.

3. In a game apparatus, ball projecting means comprising a frame, an impeller, a spring actuating said impeller, a rotatable wheel having lugs of irregular length on the periphery thereof, said lugs being adapted to selectively engage said impeller whereby the compression obtainable on said spring may be regulated, and means for supporting and positioning said projecting means above the playing floor.

4;. In a game apparatus, the combination of a playing floor and a projector located above said playing floor, said projector consisting of a frame, a spring positioned within said frame, an impeller positioned above said spring movable to deform said spring and to be actuated thereby, and means located above said impeller for variably regulating the movement thereof.

5. In a game apparatus, ball projecting means consisting of a frame, a spring positioned within said frame, an impeller positioned above said spring and actuated thereby, a rotatable wheel having lugs of irregular length on the periphery of said wheel for selective contact with said impeller positioned above said impeller, and means for supporting and positioning said ball projecting means.

6. In a game apparatus, the combination of a playing floor, a plurality of playing positions defined on said playing floor and a projector independent of said playing floor and adapted to be positioned at any of the aforesaid playing positions.

7. In a game apparatus, the combination of a playing floor, recesses in said playing floor adapted to receive a ball and defining playing positions, a projector independent of said playing floor, and means for supporting said projector at any chosen playing position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 13th day of October, 1930.

ALOIS STANLEY BISHOP. 

